Reading Time: 3 minutes Little is known about the impact of parasites on Canadian cattle production. But one thing is sure — resistance to the medication used to treat these parasites is growing. “There’s a lack of local information and a lack of information on parasites in Canada. That’s a problem,” John Gilleard, professor of parasitology in the University […] Read more
Parasites could be costing you big bucks without you even realizing it
Infected cattle often look healthy, but their daily gain might be up to half a pound lower than it should be
Veterinarians needed for meat inspection program
Reading Time: < 1 minute Veterinarians are being sought to act as meat inspectors under the Appointed Inspector Program. Participants must be registered under the Veterinary Profession Act and licensed by the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association. “More participants are needed in many areas across the province. In some parts of Alberta, there are currently no appointed inspectors available in the […] Read more
Hutterite colony blazes antibiotic-free trail
You don’t have to sacrifice productivity or compromise health standards by going antibiotic free, say swine managers at Spring Creek Hutterite Colony
Reading Time: 2 minutes Spring Creek Hutterite Colony has become one of the first large hog operations on the Prairies to ship RWA (Raised Without Antibiotics) pigs to market. The colony, located near Walsh, shipped 200 hogs to Britco Pork in Langley, B.C. earlier this month and sent a second load a few days later. Britco, a specialty pork-processing […] Read more
The criteria for selecting the right antibiotic
Beef 911: There are a lot of factors at play and all of them need to be considered in every case where antibiotics are an option
Reading Time: 4 minutes Although a few very effective antibiotics have been removed from the marketplace over the years, the choice has never been greater. The challenge is there are so many factors hinging on the outcome, so deciding which antibiotic to use — or if one is necessary at all — can be a very difficult decision. Also […] Read more
Producers careful with antimicrobials, survey finds
Only 20 per cent of those surveyed ever used antimicrobials important in human medicine, but some resistance was found
Reading Time: 2 minutes Cow-calf producers are being careful with antimicrobials — and that’s a good news story the industry needs to share with consumers, says one of the researchers of a groundbreaking study of cattle production on the Prairies. The cattle health network, which has been tracking production practices of more than 100 cow-calf producers since 2012, found […] Read more
It’s worth the effort to find out what happened
Beef 911: Autopsies can provide very valuable information you can use to enhance preventive medicine protocols
Reading Time: 4 minutes When an animal dies, producers often simply have it disposed of. But that often means valuable information is lost — so decisions for the rest of the herd or altering treatments for subsequent cases cannot be made. An experienced veterinarian can glean very valuable information from a complete autopsy and often give you the cause […] Read more
Research on antimicrobial use and resistance to be funded
A total of $1.5 million available for projects that reduce antimicrobial use or combat resistance
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Beef Producers and the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency are seeking research proposals focused on antimicrobial use and resistance. The two organizations will be awarding $1.5 million in grants for research in the following areas: Identify and/or develop practical and economically viable modifications to current beef production practices that reduce the need for non-ionophore […] Read more
New website focuses on antimicrobial resistance
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association has launched a campaign called Raised with Care to inform livestock producers about upcoming changes to antimicrobial regulations and livestock production practices. “Controlling the spread of (antibiotic) resistance is essential if we hope to retain our access to these tools that save countless human and animal lives,” the association said […] Read more
Antibiotic resistance threat can’t be dismissed, say experts
Antibiotic use in cattle doesn’t appear to be a threat to human medicines, but their use must still be curbed
Reading Time: 3 minutes Despite intense scrutiny, there’s little evidence that antibiotic use in the cattle industry is increasing resistance to human medicines. But it could be causing increased resistance to antibiotics used to treat cattle, say two experts. There’s no question that using antibiotics increases the odds of bacteria becoming resistant, said Reynold Bergen, science director of the […] Read more
Message received on antibiotic use
Poultry health expert says industry has responded to consumer concerns and is reducing antibiotic use
Reading Time: 2 minutes The poultry industry has a good news story when it comes to antibiotic use and it’s time to share it. “The industry is driving the bus right now and that’s a good thing,” said Dr. Tom Inglis, a vet and managing partner of Poultry Health Services in Airdrie. “It behooves us to think a little […] Read more
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